How do stations pick the songs they play???

[TheNeedleDrops]

Ok, I have a serious question for whoever knows the answer. I was always under the impression that stations were in control of what they play on the radio as far as preferences are concerned. Recently, and I can't even remember where I read it, I got the impression that the artist is in control of what is played on the radio. For instance, can a radio station play any song off of a new studio album or are they restricted to playing only the songs that an artist releases as a single. Help me out if you can cause now I am utterly confused.

[jazzboCR]

I think the essential question here is does the artist/artist management have a strangle-hold on uses of copyrighted material? If that's true, it's doubtful any of the corporate behemoths (Clear Channel, etc.) would challenge or want to. So what's left? University, church-owned or other nonprofit organizations + any independent "pirate" stations. They might get a pass because of a "non-commercial use" doctrine. While it may in an artist's best interest out front to restrict ( # of plays x audience size is payable data), we can all name "B" sides or non-promoted album cuts that became hits because somebody, somewhere believed in them. We need a copyright lawyer and/or a deep-shadow consultant to answer well--my words are mere speculation...which I hope added to the conversation.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

I would suggest different countries each have different criteria surrounding what material they play and more importantly, each station would have their own music format also...

I don't believe the artists have a say in what gets played, its probably more a case of their recording company and how money they want to throw in at promoting an artist....

I do know a guy who works at a community funded radio station and they are bound by the same laws regarding broadcasting as the larger radio networks,
In his case the broadcast law states that a certain percentage of songs played on radio here must be of Australian origin ie: The artist must be of Aussie origin regardless of whether they still live here or not...
He is also in total control of what he plays everyday as long as the above criteria is met and the music conforms to the station format....

I do notice that when an artist tours here, lets say Stones for example....
They seem to get more song played during the lead up of a tour than they'd normally get....
But,
Is that the DJs choice or are The Stones label promoting them?, I don't know.

What I don't like about the modern music stations is that they overkill certain songs and artists,
The most recent example is Taylor Swift,I like her music but, it seems every third sing at the moment is "bad blood", before that is was the other singles from the album....

I change which station I listen to every couple of days, that way I hear modern pop, alt, country, classic rock etc all the time which leaves no time to really get too stuck on one genre/format...

[Music Head]

I always come back to
what is a single?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

I agree....
Any track can make the singles charts nowadays if enough digital copies get bought or downloaded via the usual suspects....

Real singles charts ceased to be when digital became reality.

[Music Head]

I agree....
Any track can make the singles charts nowadays if enough digital copies get bought or downloaded via the usual suspects....

Real singles charts ceased to be when digital became reality.

exactly
the term no longer exists as we knew it
if anyone can download any track from an album
and those sales are tabulated for use in compiling the singles charts
what does it mean when they say a song is released as a single?
isn't every track on an album a potential single?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

Its probably one that has a promo video maybe????

But that doesn't work neither because Neil Young has vids for all the tracks on his last few albums.

[oldies65]

the sad fact is that most stations have no control over what to play, especially the so-called[oldies]stations, that's why you only hear two or three of the same songs from the classic artist[sad]the days of the jockeys choosing are long gone.. like the dodo bird.

[TheNeedleDrops]

I always come back to
what is a single?

Again, I can't remember where I read it, but they were talking about how so and so was going to release such and such as their next single to radio stations (or something along those lines)...but the album was already out. That was what got me wondering about who's in control. Why would you release a "single" of a song that has already been released on your new album. Boggles my wee little mind.

[SteveO]

The pirate radio stations and FM radio would avoid the usual suspect(s) (singles) and play the entire album or worthy tracks other than the singles. I don't know who does that these days! Interesting topic, thanks for the post Needle! Interesting to find out how the record company and or artist chooses the single.